Anthony O'Hagan and John W. Stevens
Statistical Services Unit, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England and Astra Charnwood, Loughborough, England
Publication details: Medical Decision Making, 21, 219-230, 2001.
We present an analysis of the choice of sample sizes for demonstrating cost-effectiveness of a new treatment or procedure, when data on both cost and efficacy will be collected in a clinical trial. We employ the Bayesian approach to statistics, and show that this provides insight into the sample size problem as well as offering a more flexible formulation.
Keywords: Bayesian statistics; Cost-effectiveness; Experimental design; Net benefits; Pharmacoeconomics; Sample size.